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Its open-enrollment season. Deciding whether to buy dental insurance is a very important decision for you and your family. In addition to limiting your financial risk from some dental expenses, dental insurance can help in a number of other ways.

Dental insurance plans:

· Generally cover regular professional visits that include teeth cleanings and fluoride treatments. These visits, combined with proper flossing and brushing at home, help avoid tooth decay and promote healthy gums. Plans may also cover other aspects of professional dental care, including fillings, crowns and root canals.

· Can help pay for unexpected dental emergencies and damage to your teeth that may be expensive to fix.

· Will help your children establish healthy preventative dental habits early on. Regular oral exams, cleanings and X-rays are important to long-term dental health.

Its important to assess your known dental needs and those of your family. For example, are any family members likely to need orthodontia, wisdom-tooth extraction, periodontal (gum) care, cosmetic procedures, bridgework or dentures this coming year? Does your employer offer a Flexible Spending Account or Medical Savings Account to save for larger expenditures?

Here are a few good questions to ask when comparing dental plans:

Which dentists are within this plans preferred provider network?

Which services are covered under this plan and which are not?

How much will I have to pay (monthly premiums, co-pays and annual deductibles) and what is the annual maximum coverage?

Brought to you by Pacific Medical Group Beaverton - Family Practice Insider -

Its open enrollment season again, when consumers make critical decisions about health insurance coverage and health care providers.

Pacific Medical Group has five locations in the Portland metro area: Beaverton, Tigard, Canby, Oregon City and North Portland.

All of our clinics are recognized as Patient-Centered Medical Homes by the State of Oregon, which means we offer enhanced, coordinated medical care for our patients.

At Pacific Medical Group Beaverton, we can care for pediatrics to seniors. For adults, we offer chronic disease management for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. We stress preventative medicine to the whole family, and also offer gynecological care for women and girls.

We listen to your concerns and answer your questions. We offer after-hours help and alternatives to the emergency room or urgent care. We help you play an active role in your health. As your Patient-Centered Medical Home, we ask that you make us aware of any other providers or clinics that may be assisting you with your healthcare needs.

Call Pacific Medical Group today to find out how we can provide superior service to you and your family.

As people get older and become more vulnerable through physical aging, slower cognitive skills and limited mobility, they may begin to experience fear or anxiety.

Loved ones should recognize that such fears are a normal response to change, even in someone who once had a confident stride and attitude. Fears – even those that may seem baseless – should be recognized and their concerns should be addressed.

Studies show that 30 to 50 percent of elderly people fear falling and being injured. Others may be frightened to cook, concerned they may start a fire. Not being able to drive, which can be caused by vision problems or slower reflexes, fuels a seniors biggest fear -- loss of independence.

A small degree of fear can be healthy, inspiring an aging adult to get a cane or walker. A high degree of fear may result in a senior sitting too much and losing muscle tone, which actually increases the likelihood of falling.

Some seniors may have concerns about moving to a retirement or assisted living community. Such concerns are often based in unfamiliarity with the services such a community may offer, the facility itself, opportunities to be active and social, medication assistance and safety measures.

You may have a parent, spouse or friend who has difficulty maintaining a healthy mouth on their own. How can you help?

Two things are critical:

· Help them keep their mouth clean with reminders to brush and floss daily.

· Make sure they get to a dentist regularly.

These steps can prevent many problems, but tasks that once seemed so simple can become very challenging.

If your loved one is having difficulty with brushing and flossing, talk to a dentist or hygienist who can provide helpful tips or a different approach.

For a patient who wear dentures, pay close attention to eating habits. If theyre having difficulty eating or are not eating as much as usual, denture problems could be the cause.

When youre caring for someone who is confined to bed, they may have so many health problems that its easy to forget about oral health. However, its still very important because bacteria from the mouth can be inhaled into the lungs and cause pneumonia.

Our team offers a full range of dental care in an inviting and comforting setting, along with a level of personal attention and compassion you wont find elsewhere.

We are committed to providing comprehensive oral health care, with a strong emphasis on prevention.

For those who need dentures, we can handle all phases of the process.

Dr. Moga offers full dental care, including extractions, while Michael Moga expertly crafts dentures in the same office.

Brought to you by Margaret Norman, Beaverton Lodge - Retirement Living INSIDER -

According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 25 percent of seniors over age 65 have diabetes, diagnosed or undiagnosed. Twenty-nine million Americans have the disease.

November is American Diabetes Month. Its a good reminder to find out more about diabetes risk factors (visit www.diabetes.org/) and to schedule medical tests to check for prediabetes.

For those already diagnosed with diabetes, is your disease well-managed? If not, why not?

Nutrition is the cornerstone of proper diabetes management. In some cases, proper nutrition alone will curb diabetes symptoms and eliminate the need for insulin.

At Beaverton Lodge Retirement Residence, three meals a day are served in the dining room, which has flexible meal plans and hours. Whenever possible, our kitchen serves seasonal organic produce, natural beef and chicken and organic Oregon seafood. Diabetic desserts are also offered.

Brought to you by Pacific Medical Group - Medical Family Practice INSIDER -

Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer.

The good news is that self-exams, clinical exams and mammograms help with early detection. Most women can survive breast cancer, if its found and treated early.

Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month. Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so its important to establish a regular time to perform a self-exam.

While mammograms can help detect cancer before you can feel a lump, breast self-exams help you to be familiar with how your breasts look and feel so you can alert your healthcare provider if there are any changes. Find out how by visiting www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-self-exam

Clinical breast exams are an important part of early detection. An experienced professional may notice a suspicious area on the breast that may not register as a warning in the patients mind.

During a clinical breast exam, your healthcare provider will exam your breasts to look for differences in size or shape between your breasts as well as the skin covering your breasts for any rash, dimpling, or other abnormal signs.

Talk with your healthcare provider, especially between the ages of 40 and 49, when to schedule a mammogram. It is recommended that women ages 50 to 74 have a mammogram every two years, unless your provider recommends having a mammogram more often.

You may wonder why you're suddenly getting cavities when you havent had them in years.

As we get older, we enter a second round of cavity-prone years.

One common cause of cavities in older adults is dry mouth. Dry mouth is not a normal part of aging. However, it is a side effect in more than 500 medications, including those for allergies or asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pain, anxiety or depression, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

This is just one reason why its so important to tell your dentist about any medications youre taking. Your dentist can make recommendations to help relieve your dry mouth symptoms and prevent cavities dry mouth symptoms. Here are some common recommendations:

· Use over-the-counter oral moisturizers, such as a spray or mouthwash.

· Consult with your physician on whether to change the medication or dosage.

· Drink more water. Carry a water bottle with you, and dont wait until youre thirsty to drink. Your mouth needs constant lubrication.

Fall is a great time to shop for a retirement community, before the colder weather hits and the holidays get under way.

Settle into your new home and enjoy the easy-care living and all the amenities.

At Beaverton Lodge, we have a relaxing heated mineral saline pool. Saline poolwater doesnt have the side effects often associated with traditionally chlorinated pools, such as irritated eyes and skin to lung irritation and asthma-like symptoms.

There are a variety of activities right on-site, including indoor exercise classes, art shows and a movie theatre.

Turn over the shopping, housework and cooking duties to our staff and enjoy our delicious cuisine.

Weve also got a high cozy quotient, with a fireplace in the sitting room.

No need to worry about power outages when the wind whips up. Our solar voltaic panels generate electricity and we have solar hot water heating.

Theres a back-up power generator in extreme weather conditions. If the power goes out, the generator comes on in 10 seconds, supplying electricity to the central building to keep it fully operational, including both elevators. Apartment hallways are lit by emergency lighting hallways stay warm. During a power outage, we can feed and support residents and staff and maintain communications with emergency personnel.

Make an appointment to visit, have a meal and ask about going on a trip with the residents. Its a great way to talk with people who live in the community and learn more about life at Beaverton Lodge.

Consumers, office managers, owners and non-profits routinely make the same expensive mistake when replacing printer cartridges.

We experience it daily. A business wants a standard or low-yield cartridge and is surprised to learn about a high-yield cartridge for the printer in question. The previous vendor never mentioned how they can reduce their cost-per-page by at least 30% with name brand high-yield cartridges, and significantly more with factory remanufactured or compatible alternatives.

For office and business laser printers, determine if there is a high-yield cartridge. Not doing so costs your organization dearly. Office superstores generally do not mention the high-yield cartridge unless asked.

Retail tricks of the trade are numerous. The ink cartridge Value Pack is rarely a real savings. Typically there is a high-yield black and low-yield colors. The cost-per-page is 30% or more than high-yield cartridges. General merchandisers (Walmart, Target & Fred Meyer) usually do not sell high-yield cartridges so your per-page cost will always be the most expensive.

As a full service independent, non-franchise operation located in Raleigh Hills, on the Portland – Beaverton border, Cartridge Network sells and services printers and copiers. We stock several dozen different printer models (inkjet and laser) and copiers too. We focus on a buyers needs and then explore alternatives to best meet their needs. We stock several thousand different ink & laser toner cartridges and offer free shipping.

If youre a fan or someone who follows either team, you can decide if you want to swing by our store and get your free complimentary 2016 season schedule after seeing it.

Our other seasonal promotion is Back to School, of course. Teachers and students save 15% off already low pricing on all non-OEM, factory remanufactured or compatible ink or laser printer cartridges. The extra savings last through late September. Again, click to the landing page.

Brought to you by Dr. Irina Moga, Irina Moga DDS - Dental INSIDER -

Brushing and flossing are the best way to prevent cavities, but theres another way to protect your teeth.

Sealant is a thin, protective coating that adheres to the chewing surface of your back teeth. Theyre like a raincoat for your teeth!

The product, made of plastic or other dental materials, can keep cavities from forming and stop early stages of decay. Sealants reduce the risk of decay in molars by almost 80 percent.

Molars are especially good candidates for sealants because they are rough, uneven and a common place for bits of food and bacteria to linger.

Children and adults can benefit from sealants, but the earlier, the better.

First molars erupt around age 6, and second molars break through around age 12.

Sealing the teeth as soon as they emerge can keep them cavity-free from the start, which helps save time and money in the long run.

The process is quick and painless. Your dentist will clean and dry your tooth before placing an acidic gel on your teeth. The gel roughens the tooths surface so a strong bond will form between the tooth and the sealant. After a few seconds, the dentists will rinse off the gel and dry your tooth again before applying the sealant and using a blue light to harden it.

A Jesuit High School senior has figured out a cost-effective way to remove salt from ocean water and turn it into fresh drinking water. Chaitanya Karamchedu, 17, estimates his technology could impact up to a billion lives if it is implemented on a…